For Sixers rookie Jared McCain, camp and preseason might actually matter

For Sixers rookie Jared McCain, camp and preseason may truly matter initially appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The month or so main as much as the primary sport that counts aren’t very consequential for a lot of NBA veterans.

Sure, it’s necessary that Joel Embiid ramps up easily, Paul George good points consolation together with his new staff and Tyrese Maxey retains honing his playmaking. Nonetheless, it might be a stretch to name any preseason minutes actually significant for the Sixers’ stars.

Rookie guard Jared McCain is in a a lot completely different place.

Based mostly on the thrill out of coaching camp, the sixteenth total decide has impressed in his early days as a Sixer. On Day 2, Sixers head coach Nick Nurse told reporters in the Bahamas he continues to “actually like” McCain. He praised his “IQ for the sport” and defensive effort, calling him a “scrapper.”

On Day 3, Joel Embiid described McCain as “powerful” and stated he’s been “taking pictures the ball extraordinarily properly.”

Will McCain find yourself vaulting over well-established gamers within the Sixers’ rotation? Reggie Jackson and Eric Gordon are of their mid-30s and Kyle Lowry’s 38. At 20 years previous, McCain seems to have a mature outlook on his path to enjoying time. He’ll management what he can — hustle, constructive power, consideration to element — and look to boost his sharpshooting status.

In his one yr at Duke, McCain shot 41.4 % from three-point vary on 5.8 makes an attempt per sport. He then struggled together with his taking pictures in a smaller, far lower-stakes pattern at summer time league, going just 28.6 percent from the field and 25.5 percent from three-point range.

“I’ve labored with (assistant coach Rico Hines) every single day since summer time league,” McCain stated Monday at his first NBA media day. “I’ve been with him within the health club within the morning earlier than follow, simply making an attempt to determine what I can do to assist the staff win — no matter that’s. And nonetheless perfecting no matter I can that will not be my position this yr however could also be down the road … dealing with the ball, with the ability to lead a staff.

“However nonetheless clearly perfecting the catch-and-shoot and simply with the ability to knock down pictures. … Throughout, simply making an attempt to get higher.”

Grinding every day with Hines, who heads the Sixers’ player development program, can’t damage McCain’s inventory with the teaching workers. So far as Nurse specifically, there’s not a deep historical past with rookie guards within the NBA to check.

Undrafted Terence Davis made the All-Rookie Second Crew with the 2019-20 Raptors, though he wasn’t within the rotation for Toronto’s second-round playoff collection loss to the Celtics. No. 29 total decide Malachi Flynn had a midseason G League stint as a rookie after which ended the yr beginning for a staff outdoors playoff competition. Jumbo guard Dalano Banton logged 64 NBA appearances for the 2021-22 Raptors and performed 10.9 minutes per contest.

We’ll quickly have a greater sense of the place precisely McCain stands.

In the end, although every part’s fluid for NBA rookies on playoff groups, McCain can legitimately assist himself within the weeks earlier than his first “actual” sport.

“I believe certainly one of my expertise is I’m good at adapting to regardless of the state of affairs is,” he stated Monday. “Even at first of school … I really feel like I used to be nearly the fourth or fifth possibility on the ground within the very starting.

“However I form of simply stored working and clearly grew to become one of many first choices. … I believe I’m prepared for no matter alternative I get. I’m simply going to work as arduous as I can and do no matter I can to assist the staff win.”